President Donald J. Trump Proclaims May 15, 2018, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 13 through May 19, 2018, as Police Week

On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, we acknowledge the incredible service and sacrifices law enforcement personnel make each day for their fellow Americans. The brave men and women of our Nation’s law enforcement work long hours, often in dangerous situations, to protect our lives, liberty, and property. We also take this opportunity to pay tribute to law enforcement personnel who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. We will never forget their courage.

In addition to expressing our appreciation for our dedicated law enforcement professionals, we must equip them to carry out the tremendous responsibility of keeping our communities safe. Through the Department of Justice, my Administration will continue to provide our Nation’s law enforcement agencies with the resources they need and deserve to keep our citizens safe and our communities secure. This includes providing substantial funding for hiring additional police officers, training for active shooter situations, and improving the safety of our Nation’s schools.

My Administration will also continue to advance the National Blue Alert Network, an emergency alert and early warning system that protects America’s law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. The Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission worked together to establish a dedicated Emergency Alert System event code. This code facilitates rapid dissemination of critical information to law enforcement agencies and the public about violent offenders who have killed, seriously injured, or who pose an imminent and credible threat to law enforcement officers. The exceptional men and women of law enforcement work every day to protect our lives, and this code helps us protect theirs.

The safety and health of our officers must be a priority for all Americans. Every day, members of law enforcement risk their lives in service to those they have pledged to protect and defend. We must not take their devotion to duty for granted, and we must do everything in our power to ensure their physical and mental well-being. Earlier this year, I was pleased to sign into law the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2017, which helps provide police officers the resources they need to deal with job stress and trauma associated with their demanding career field.

The work of law enforcement officers is essential to preserving peace in our communities and to ensuring the safety of precious lives and personal property. My Administration proudly salutes the patriots in law enforcement who selflessly serve our Nation. We also solemnly acknowledge our debt to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. These officers and their families have our prayers and unwavering gratitude.

By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law 103-322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136-137), the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2018, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 13 through May 19, 2018, as Police Week. In humble appreciation of our hardworking law enforcement officers, Melania and I will light the White House in blue on May 15. I call upon all Americans to observe Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also call on the Governors of the States and Territories and officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half‑staff from their homes and businesses on that day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.

DONALD J. TRUMP

Governor Dayton Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day

ST. PAUL, MN – In accordance with a proclamation issued by President Donald J. Trump, Governor Mark Dayton has directed all flags at state and federal buildings in Minnesota to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in honor and remembrance of peace officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.

“On this day, and every day, it is fitting to honor those peace officers who gave their lives to protect ours, and to thank the over 10,000 law enforcement officers who serve in Minnesota’s 446 law enforcement agencies, for their dedication and service to our communities,” reads Governor Dayton’s proclamation.

President John F. Kennedy declared the first Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15, 1962, as a tribute to peace officers and in honor of peace officers who, through their courageous deeds, lost their lives or became disabled in the line of duty. This day has been observed in our country annually ever since.

Governor Dayton’s Proclamation:

WHEREAS: President John F. Kennedy declared the first Peace Officers Memorial day on May 15, 1962, in honor of “those peace officers who, through their courageous deeds, have lost their lives or have become disabled in the performance of duty;” and

WHEREAS: Since December 3, 1874, when the first Minnesota peace officer was reported killed in the line of duty, and as of May 14, 2018, 280 Minnesota Law Enforcement Officers have died in the line of duty. Nationally an average of 151 officers are killed and over 15,000 injured in the United States each year; and

WHEREAS: The Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association was established in 1974 to honor fallen and injured peace officers who put their lives on the line for the protection of all Minnesotans, dedicating a memorial at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in 1977 before re-creating the memorial on the Minnesota State Capitol grounds in 1995; and

WHEREAS: On this Law Enforcement Memorial Day, the families of Hayfield Chief Douglas Claassen, who died on March 13, 1999 as a result of injuries sustained on April 13, 1977 in the line of duty and DNR Game Warden Marcus Whipps, killed in the line of duty on July 12, 1940, will be dedicating their names on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C.; and

WHEREAS: Today, and every day, it is fitting to honor those Peace Officers who gave of their lives to protect ours, and to thank the over 10,000 Law Enforcement Officers in Minnesota who serve in 446 law enforcement agencies for their dedication and service to Minnesota communities.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARK DAYTON, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, May 15, 2018, as: PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY in the State of Minnesota, and do hereby order all United States flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in honor of Peace Officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.